A Grand Army of Black Men: Letters from African-American Soldiers in the Union Army 1861–1865 (Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture, Series Number 63)

Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture

by Edwin S. Redkey

The Civil War stands vivid in the collective memory of the American public. There has always been a profound interest in the subject, and specifically of Blacks' participation in and reactions to the war and the war's outcome. Almost 200,000 African-American soldiers fought for the Union in the Civil War. Although most were illiterate ex-slaves, several thousand were well educated, free black men from the northern states. The 129 letters in this collection were written by black soldiers in the Union army during the Civil War to black and abolitionist newspapers. They provide a unique expression of the black voice that was meant for a public forum. The letters tell of the men's experiences, their fears, and their hopes. They describe in detail their army days--the excitement of combat and the drudgery of digging trenches. Some letters give vivid descriptions of battle; others protest racism; still others call eloquently for civil rights. Many describe their conviction that they are fighting not only to free the slaves but to earn equal rights as citizens. These letters give an extraordinary picture of the war and also reveal the bright expectations, hopes, and ultimately the demands that black soldiers had for the future--for themselves and for their race. As first-person documents of the Civil War, the letters are strong statements of the American dream of justice and equality, and of the human spirit.

Genres: History, American History, American Civil War, Civil War

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great work of collecting letters written by these soldiers during the Civil War, but I could not give it a fifth star due to the organizational structure of the book. The letters were arranged geographically, and then chronologically within each region, except when they were grouped by topic.
So, what was here was really interesting, but I kept having the feeling that I was missing things which hadn't caught the editor's eye.
This collection is very much worth reading, even with my minor quibbles.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent compilation. Mandatory reading for any Civil War history nerd.

[Ed Protzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book proved a great resource as I researched my Civil War-era novel, THE LIES THAT BIND, Book 1 my DARKHORSE TRILOGY. Also used in researching the sequel, HONOR AMONG OUTCASTS, set during the guerrilla war in Missouri, to be published later in 2017. Find THE LIES THAT BIND on Goodreads.

[Marguerite Wilbur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Resource for seeing the Civil War from Black soldiers perspective.